London hire bikes...specs?
tjwood
Posts: 328
Anyone know anything in detail about the specs of the new London hire bikes? Would be interesting to know particularly if the lights are actually fully compliant with Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations - it seems to me that the rear lights (mounted in the seatstays just above the hub) might be a bit low - and do they all carry appropriate BS approval markings?
Or like the rest of us are TfL following the spirit rather than the letter of RVLR?
Or like the rest of us are TfL following the spirit rather than the letter of RVLR?
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Good question.0
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Sub 1000g frame
Di2
Dura Ace 7850 50mm tubs
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I might be able to get a detail spec of the bikes. but it will take me a few days.
All i know so far is the hub is a shimano nexus 3 speed.0 -
there's some detail on the bikes on http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/jul/20/london-bike-hire-scheme-paris-velib
along with a picture of the bike0 -
Yeah I've seen pictures (more at http://www.tfl.gov.uk/roadusers/cycling/15020.aspx)
It was these that got me thinking about the lights. From the TfL site it looks to me as if the front light might be lacking in side spill and the rear light is mounted quite low down, possibly lower than 350mm from the ground as required by RVLR (depending on the diameter of the rear wheel, which I can't tell for sure from the picture, but I'm guessing is smaller than a standard 700C or 26" wheel). You obviously can't tell for sure from the pictures so I don't want to make any accusations, but it does seem to be a possibility that the lights, while perfectly adequate I'm sure, might not be technically in compliance with RVLR. Which is the same situation as applies to 90%+ of bikes on the road, I'd guess, but not perhaps what you'd expect from a bike effectively provided by the state.0 -
Rear light must be at least 350mm up, which this sure looks like it is actually, just:
http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=40710
